Just some of the many random thoughts that run through my head

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Dangerous Business

“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

Well, by the time most of you read this, I’ll be on the road. I’m taking a much-needed vacation, and my best friend and I are going to visit Ryan & Janae Dagen!!! I am really excited to see them.

For those of you who don’t know, quick back story on the relationship between Ryan and I. Ryan used to be the youth pastor at Gap Community Church. During that time, I pretty much functioned as his assistant youth pastor, in addition to the other duty’s of my job, since I was employed by GCC at the time.

About exactly a year ago (a little more, like a year and month?) Ryan and his wife Janae left their jobs up here in Lancaster County, packed up all their stuff, and moved to Springfield, Missouri to work with Eurasia Cafe. (click the link for more info about that).

Ryan was a good friend, and mentor, to me. A “brolemodel” according to Urban Dictionary. He was someone I looked to for advice on life, and on fun.

True story (and kinda a bunny trail), one of my favorite memories with my friends wouldn’t have happened without Ryan. He wasn’t there, but we wouldn’t have done it if it hadn’t been for Ryan. We were bored, so we decided we wanted to go spelunking (cave exploring) so we asked Ryan if he knew of any good caves, he told us about one, we put it into my friend Josh’s iPhone (he was the only one with one at the time) and went to find the cave. Long story short, we couldn’t find it. So we decided to hike Chickies Rock. We hiked, then decided to go off the trail and hike down the Susquehanna River. The resulting journey was fun, dangerous, and full of memories I’ll never forget. But we would have never gone without Ryan.

It’s amazing the ways someone can touch your life in big ways, and yet you find it’s the little ways that they touched your life that you miss the most. I knew when Ryan left, I was going to need a new mentor. So I found one. But I never realized I would need a new “adventure inspiration” so I never did find one, and I notice it. I can feel it.

All that to say, I am really excited to see them tomorrow. If you think of it, keep Cameron and I in your prayers as we drive halfway across the country and back in about 5 days.